Online Degree Completion Programs Guide
Key Takeaways
- Degree completion programs can accelerate your path to a bachelor’s degree, often allowing you to transfer up to 90 credits.
- Failing to take full advantage of transfer credits can delay graduation and increase the cost of your degree.
- Choose flexible programs, maximize credit opportunities, and apply for aid to graduate faster with less student debt.
If you left college before finishing your bachelor’s degree, an online degree-completion program may be a good fit.
Accredited online institutions offering these programs maximize your existing college credit, allowing you to finish your remaining coursework in about 1-3 years. Your timeline depends on your transfer credits and the program’s format and flexibility. This guide highlights colleges offering online degree completion programs and helps you find the option that best fits your goals.
What Is an Online Degree Completion Program?
Online degree-completion programs help adult learners with an associate degree or significant college credit earn a bachelor’s degree.
“Many students return to school to earn a bachelor’s degree after earning their associate degree, which could lead to promotions. For example, this investment might help an assistant manager become a manager,” reports Norma Feriz-Gordon, a state-certified professional school counselor who has helped thousands of students navigate higher education.
These programs award transfer credit based on your undergraduate transcripts, prior learning portfolio (PLP), or performance on an exam. Programs may not award transfer credit if you do not meet a GPA cutoff or submit transcripts from a school lacking proper accreditation.
Who Should Consider an Online Degree Completion Program?
Online degree-completion programs appeal to returning students, associate degree holders, and career advancers needing extra education to reach their professional goals.
How Online Degree Completion Programs Work
During enrollment, degree-seekers complete a credit transfer process. As this process varies by school, contact colleges’ admissions departments for the latest information.
1. Transfer Credits
You can earn transfer credit by:
- Passing courses at an accredited two- or four-year college
- Submitting a PLP to instructors
- Passing an exam covering course content
College and university admissions websites detail their transfer credit policies and procedures. Make sure you submit official transcripts with your application.
2. Credit Evaluation
Your associate degree or college credit must undergo a credit evaluation process. Transfer advisors may use a GPA cutoff, meaning that some of your credits may not transfer. Degree-completion programs may also require you to pass all general education courses before applying.
As credit evaluations differ among schools, check requirements closely to make sure you receive the most transfer credit.
3. Remaining Coursework
After your online degree-completion program awards transfer credit, an academic advisor can help you plan your remaining coursework. You need these extra courses to reach the 120 credits most colleges and universities require for a bachelor’s degree. Typical students graduate in 1-3 years, depending on their prior academic experience.
10 Colleges Offering Online Degree Completion Programs
Explore the following universities to learn more about popular online degree-completion programs, tuition rates, and transfer credit policies.
Fayetteville State University
- Tuition: $42 per credit hour in-state / $208 per credit hour out-of-state
- Transfer Credit Policy: At least 24 undergraduate credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA
Fayetteville State offers 15 online degree-completion programs in high-demand fields such as computer science, nursing, criminal justice, and psychology. Practicing nurses can earn an RN-to-BSN while continuing to work. Other academic highlights include programs in intelligence studies and political science.
East Carolina University
- Tuition: $410 per credit hour in state / $491 per credit hour out of state
- Transfer Credit Policy: At least 24 undergraduate credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA
ECU’s five Flight Path programs include psychology, security studies, and criminal justice. Adult degree-seekers benefit from eight-week terms, academic success coaches, and a career-aligned curriculum. Rolling admissions and many annual start dates make ECU attractive to prospective students wanting to restart their education as soon as possible.
Georgia State University
- Tuition: $12,500 per year in state / $33,320 per year out of state
- Transfer Credit Policy: Up to 90 undergraduate credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA
Georgia State features eight online degree-completion programs in subjects that include finance, hospitality, and nursing. Some programs require orientation on the university’s Atlanta campus. An asynchronous curriculum designed by the same instructors who teach on-campus courses makes Georgia State an excellent option for degree-seekers who work or raise children.
Northeastern University
- Tuition: $560 per credit hour
- Transfer Credit Policy: Up to 60 undergraduate credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA
Northeastern offers over 20 online bachelor’s-completion programs in subjects like advanced manufacturing systems, health services, and project management. Some programs offer an optional hybrid curriculum with in-person coursework on the university’s Boston, Massachusetts, or Oakland, California, campus. New students can choose from three annual start dates and graduate in just 18 months.
California State University System
- Tuition: Varies by institution
- Transfer Credit Policy: At least 60 undergraduate credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA
Cal State’s online transfer/degree-completion programs offer students throughout the Golden State and beyond the opportunity to complete their education in one of over three dozen majors. Highlights include a criminal justice program with BA and BS tracks. Gender studies degree-seekers can choose from nine concentrations.
Boston University
- Tuition: Projected $1,141 per credit
- Transfer Credit Policy: At least 40 undergraduate credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA
Unlike other online degree-completion programs, Boston University lets you create a custom curriculum. You work with an advisor to choose courses aligning with your academic and professional interests, such as physics, botany, and even morality. Students with enough transfer credit can finish their bachelor’s degree in just 15 months.
University of Virginia
- Tuition: $499 per credit hour
- Transfer Credit Policy: 36-60 undergraduate credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA
UVA’s bachelor’s-completion program in interdisciplinary studies blends asynchronous and synchronous education. You can choose from over a dozen concentrations, such as cloud solutions and operations, healthcare management, and history and politics. All concentrations feature a capstone experience requiring you to research a problem related to your area of interest.
University of Oklahoma
- Tuition: $550 per credit hour
- Transfer Credit Policy: At least 24 undergraduate credits and a minimum 2.5 GPA
OU features 14 online bachelor’s degree-completion programs in subjects such as economics, social work, and software development and integration. Benefits include fully asynchronous learning, personalized academic support, and mental health services for learners in need. All courses last eight weeks, and electives let you custom-tailor your educational experience.
University of Kentucky
- Tuition: $654 per credit hour
- Transfer Credit Policy: At least a minimum 2.0 undergraduate GPA
UK offers 11 online bachelor’s degree-completion programs, such as communication, social work, and U.S. culture and business practices. All online degrees feature asynchronous education and do not charge out-of-state tuition. All incoming degree-seekers work with a transfer advisor to maximize their transfer credits and reduce their time in school.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Tuition: $159 per credit hour in state / $834 per credit hour out of state
- Transfer Credit Policy: At least 60 undergraduate credits and a minimum 2.5 GPA
UNC Charlotte’s nine bachelor’s-completion programs include business administration, political science, and RN-to-BSN. Asynchronous education and virtual office hours provide essential flexibility and support for adult learners. Prospective students can test UNC Charlotte’s learning management system for free by completing one of eight sample learning activities.
How Long Does It Take to Finish Your Degree
Your transfer credit impacts how long you need to finish a bachelor’s degree. You may need more time to graduate if you study part time.
Transfer Credits: 30
Remaining Credits: 60
Years: 3
Transfer Credits: 60
Remaining Credits: 60
Years: 2
Transfer Credits: 90
Remaining Credits: 30
Years: 1
How to Choose the Right Online Degree Completion Program
Choosing the right school involves comparing your needs to the program’s admission requirements, academic requirements, and cost. You may need to look beyond the factors below to find the best program for you.
- Transfer Credit Limits: Some online degree-completion programs cap transfer credit, meaning part of your previous educational experience may not count toward a bachelor’s.
- Accreditation: Colleges may not accept your transfer credit if you earned it at a school lacking proper accreditation.
- Flexibility: Online degree-completion programs targeting adult learners may offer asynchronous education, a benefit if you work while in school.
- Cost: Some public online colleges waive out-of-state tuition for fully online degree-seekers.
Feriz-Gordon tells prospective students that, “you might need a more flexible schedule or support with childcare, transportation, or other family responsibilities” if you enroll in a degree-completion program. “Don’t forget to apply for financial aid and budget for books, tech, and other materials.”
Is a Degree Completion Program Worth It?
Although returning to school presents challenges, there are potential advantages to finishing your education.
“Employers may consider raises based on education and specific degrees,” Feriz-Gordon said. “Some government agencies rank their roles based on education, which is directly tied to predetermined pay scales.”
Earning your bachelor’s degree can help you increase your salary potential and open up new career paths. The National Center for Education Statistics found in 2022 that bachelor’s degree-holders, ages 25-34, made about $17,000 more ($66,600) a year than associate degree-holders ($49,500).
Online education can also offer many benefits over traditional, on-campus education. An online degree-completion program can help you reach a higher return on investment (ROI) than a traditional on-campus degree since you can take it at your own pace, pay per credit, and avoid on-campus fees and costs.
Most online graduates (90%) told BestColleges in our 2025 Online Education Trends Report that their degree has had or will have a positive ROI.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Degree Completion Programs
No, as accelerated degrees appeal to incoming students without previous college experience. These programs condense the curriculum into fast-paced courses. However, the two tracks resemble one another in that the typical student earns a degree in fewer than four years.
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